Thousands of Milton Keynes households kept waiting for council tax rebate

The Citizen has taken a look at the promises of the previous prime minister and how the government’s manifesto has affected Milton Keynes.

Earlier this year the government announced that every household in council tax bands A to D would receive a £150 rebate as part of a wider package of support to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

These payments started landing in people's bank accounts in April. But now new figures from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that 10,086 – or 10.8% – of the 93,633 eligible households in Milton Keynes were still waiting as of the end of July.

However, last month MK Council vowed to pay the rebate into their accounts automatically – even if they had not made a claim.

Leading councillors said there had been a “low uptake” among residents, especially pensioners and older people.

The government has also pledged £144m in 'discretionary funds' to help those not covered by the main rebate scheme, or to provide further support to those who are – such as those who have a council tax reductions due to a disability, but do not live in a band A to D property.